Cheating Your Way To Success

Last week, newspapers were filled with reports of an IPS officer who was caught cheating in the UPSC mains examination. Safeer Karim, the 29-year-old, was serving as an Assistant Superintendent of Police. He had appeared in the civil services exam, in the hope of getting into the Indian Administrative Services (IAS). The 2015 batch IPS officer wasn’t the only one involved in the act. Karim was receiving help from his wife, herself a visiting faculty at an IAS coaching centre and another faculty member. He went to great lengths, using a Bluetooth device, a camera phone, WhatsApp, and a micro camera, to facilitate the cheating process. Currently, he has been suspended from duty and arrested. But, can also be sacked. This case brings forth questions about why this criminal offence keeps on taking place and has become normalised?.................Contd. Bihar- a cheating epidemic Bihar has been in the news for a while for the blatant cheating undertaken by students in school examinations. In 2015, photos of parents and friends of the students openly scaling walls to help the students cheat emerged. This act took place despite police officers being stationed outside the examination building. Turned out, the officers were also involved and bribed to turn a blind eye to this act. The photos went viral and the government was the subject of ridicule. Subsequently, some parents were arrested and many students suspended. The CM Nitish Kumar quite rightly said that such behaviour of parents will only harm their children in the long run. The state Education Minister raised the question "Is it the responsibility of the government alone to manage such a huge number of people and to conduct a 100% free and fair examination?" (BBC)..................Contd. The following year, a local news TV channel of Bihar ran a clip of two class 12th toppers struggling to answer basic questions related to their subjects. It was embarrassing to watch them say that political science "was all about cooking". Why do students cheat? The IPS officer Karim wasn’t satisfied with his current position. In 2014, he held the highest score in the UPSC ethics paper and ironically that is what he most lacked. He is debarred from the service and will most likely lose his job. What could have been a challenge that he would have overcome in a year or two has now turned into a public scandal with legal repercussions. In 1996, the psychologist and economist George Loewenstein inferred that people weigh the benefits of the unethical action against the costs of committing it, and decide accordingly. (New Yorker) Most commonly, students indulge in cheating as it is considered the easiest and quickest route. The underlying reason being, to get good grades. The education system has become more grade-oriented rather than encouraging learning. Parents and relatives too unknowingly reinforce the idea that academic success is paramount. ................Contd. Peer pressure to cheat? In a study conducted by researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), the conclusion drawn was that students cheat as they feel pressured, subtle or overt, to hit certain metrics and achieve academic success. Then, they become less hesitant to break rules and ethical norms. At times, “a community-wide ethos of cheating can develop” as seen in the case of Bihar, making the act difficult to resist. It was found that in Bihar, a mafia consisting of the teachers and school authorities helps rig the examinations. Authority figures themselves take part in the act of cheating by taking bribes, writing answers, etc. The study also talks about digital collaboration, much like the one undertaken by the IPS officer. Means to curb it Cheating has become normalised in our society. It takes place in schools during class tests and is often brushed off as nothing of a grave concern. Subtle behavioural influences are always at play. We also have a tendency to rationalise and justify cheating, thus the likelihood of it taking place again occurs. It isn’t fair to expect only the government to find means to curb such behaviour. Foremost, it falls upon students to not indulge in the act of cheating. Then, for parents to not support or encourage such behaviour. Schools too should set strong and clear standards of ethical behaviour. Slight and subtle nudges go a long way. ...................End.

Bihar- a cheating epidemic

NIS

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